Palm Beach Central football introduces new generation in 2023 spring game
WELLINGTON — Palm Beach Central’s spring football debut has been a long time coming, although starting the 2023-24 cycle in the win column took no time at all for the returning Class 7A final four contenders.
A lengthy offseason and near two hour lightning delay culminated for a 21-0 win over Glades Central on Thursday — and it only took 24 minutes.
Granted the game was abbreviated because of lingering lackluster weather, the Broncos set the tone from the start with an 80-yard touchdown connection between new rising sophomore quarterback Caleb Butler and wide receiver Nedrick Boldin on the first play of the game.
Varsity sports history nuts could argue Central was out to settle a score with the Raiders, dating back to a 10-point loss when the teams last met in 2016. However, the Broncos’ decimation of the Muck powerhouse that’s since fallen on hard times wasn’t for bragging rights over the former state champions.
After all, spring games don’t go on the record.
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But four-star, rising senior athlete Tony Williams suggested the inaugural victory meant the most important bragging rights of all: winning the trust of a community.
“We feel like we have a lot to prove because people look down on us and think we not the same central and tonight we proved we still are capable of doing the same things,” Williams said.
Before last season even began, questions swirled about how Central would recover with then first-year head coach Kevin Thompson in for the surprise departure of Scottie Littles and, above all, the loss of 26 seniors.
The offense was graduating University of Massachusetts dual-threat Ahmad Haston — who had 2,832 all-purpose yards in 2022 — and wide receivers Luby Maurice Jr. and Javorian Wimberly to Florida International and Central Michigan. Fellow three-star and safety Justin Bostic was bound for his final season ahead of taking off for Florida A&M.
That’s just to name a few, not to mention offensive lineman Chris Cirrillo or edge Nick Touissaint.
With every head-turning moment of the 12-2 run, from an 80-0 season opener over Palm Beach Lakes to a 41-14 smackdown of the district rival Wolverines for the Wellington Cup, the thought of the future wasn’t quite as bright as it’d been in the last four years.
Well, Broncos Nation, fear no more.
”This offseason I been working so hard to build my brand and it caught the eye of a lot of coaches and I just have to let go my talent speak for itself — I been doing a lot of things to improve my game and it’s shown.”
Donning the flashy gold turnover chain with a larger than life Bronco-shaped pendant on Thursday was enough verification if Williams’ growing offer collection, which includes Purdue, Louisville, Valdosta State, Southern Cal, UMass, Kentucky, East Carolina, FIU, Liberty, Central Florida, Western Michigan and more.
“The seniors always gave us tough love and that helped us — Ahmad always gave us good advice and led us in the right path,” Williams said. "He’s looking to step up into that leadership role Haston was known for on the field, in the locker room, and on social media as the biggest cheerleader of his own teammates."
The Broncos are grateful the graduates from the Class of 2023 left little pieces of themselves with each player on the roster today.
Deep balls scooped downfield are still met with the same College Football Saturday-esque cheer that electrified end zone trips started by Haston and finished by frequenters Maurice and Wimberly.
Boldin already got a taste of that before Thursday with six touchdown catches as a sophomore in 2022. His interception showed that Bostic left some well-learned lessons the backfield after picking off seven last fall to rank No. 14 in the state.
A tackle-breaking touchdown by expected inheritor of the run game Leon Williams, an upcoming senior, gleaned the style of last fall’s lead rusher Tyler “Tarzan” Young.
The two quarters of action on Thursday were just a glimpse into the time the Broncos have been putting in to put out a new and improved package that can go the distance.
This year, Central hopes to cross the finish line.
Emilee Smarr is the high scoop sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Central football introduces new generation in 2023 spring game
